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Elegy vs. Eulogy
Both elegy and eulogy may be used about writing or speech in remembrance of a person who has passed away, and this semantic overlap creates the potential for confusion. Elegy (which may be traced to the Greek word elegos, “song of mourning”) commonly refers to a song or poem lamenting one who is dead; the word may also refer somewhat figuratively to a nostalgic poem, or to a kind of musical composition. While eulogy is also commonly found referring to words about the deceased, its basic meaning, both in English and in the Greek language from which it was borrowed, is “praise.” Formed from the Greek roots eu “good” and logos “speech,” a eulogy is an encomium given for one who is either living or dead. If you are praising your partner’s unsurpassed beauty or commending the virtues of the deceased at a funeral, you are delivering a eulogy; if you are composing a lamenting reminiscence about a person who has long since passed, you are writing an elegy.
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Eulogies Aren't Only for Funerals
With its -logy ending, eulogy means literally something like "good speech". We are told to speak only good of the dead, but a eulogist actually makes a speech in the dead person's honor--or often instead for someone living, who might actually be there in the audience. The most famous eulogies include Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Pericles' funeral oration for the Athenian warriors; but these are only two of the many great eulogies, which continue to be delivered not only at funerals and memorial services but at retirement parties, anniversary parties, and birthday parties.
Synonyms
Examples of eulogy in a Sentence
Adam Nossiter, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2024
His mom, Maureen, asked him to write the obituary and deliver the eulogy.
—Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2024
More great reads Latinx Files: A eulogy for my father.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2024
During her late husband Kobe Bryant’s memorial service on Feb. 24, 2020, Bryant revealed in her eulogy that the athlete (who died in a helicopter crash on Jan 26. 2020 with their daughter Gianna) had bought her the famous piece, as well as the shoes.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 5 Apr. 2024
Her brothers, in their eulogies, talked about the large hole Kelly's death leaves in their family and community.
—Scott Wartman, The Enquirer, 4 Apr. 2024
When Opperman died, then-Justice Anthony Kennedy, who has chaired the Devitt panel, delivered the eulogy.
—Bill Chappell, NPR, 23 Mar. 2024
Melania delivered her mother’s eulogy at her funeral, which was held at The Episcopal Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach and attended by Viktor, Donald and Barron — as well as Tiffany Trump, Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner.
—Lynsey Eidell, Peoplemag, 4 Apr. 2024
McCain delivered a viral eulogy at her dad's funeral.
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eulogy.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Eulogy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eulogy. Accessed 29 Apr. 2024.
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eulogy
noun
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